Directions

1. 여기에 어떻게 가요?

   Yeo-gi-e eo-tteo-ke ga-yo?

   How do I get here?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking how to reach a destination

   Grammar Note

   "어떻게" (how) + "가요" (to go, polite). Effective when used while showing a map.

2. 지하철역이 어디예요?

   Ji-ha-cheol-yeo-gi eo-di-ye-yo?

   Where is the subway station?

   Usage

   Used when asking for the location of a subway station

   Grammar Note

   "어디" (where) + "예요" (is, polite). The copula "이에요/예요" makes it polite.

3. 오른쪽으로 가세요

   O-reun-jjo-geu-ro ga-se-yo

   Please go to the right

   Usage

   Used when guiding someone to go right

   Grammar Note

   Directional particle "으로" is used after consonant-ending words; "로" after vowels or ㄹ.

4. 왼쪽으로 꺾어 주세요

   Oen-jjo-geu-ro kkeo-geo ju-se-yo

   Please turn left

   Usage

   Used in taxis or giving directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "-어/아 주세요" is a polite request form meaning "please do...". Commonly used in taxis.

5. 직진하세요

   Jik-jin-ha-se-yo

   Please go straight

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "직진" comes from the Sino-Korean word for "going straight". "하세요" is the honorific imperative.

6. 버스 정류장이 어디예요?

   Beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang-i eo-di-ye-yo?

   Where is the bus stop?

   Usage

   Used when asking where the bus stop is

   Grammar Note

   "정류장" is the Sino-Korean word for "stop". Note the difference: subway uses "역" (station) and buses use "정류장".

7. 걸어서 얼마나 걸려요?

   Geo-reo-seo eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?

   How long does it take on foot?

   Usage

   Ask about walking time to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "걸리다" means "to take (time)". "얼마나" asks about amount or degree.

8. 택시 타고 싶어요

   Taek-si ta-go si-peo-yo

   I want to take a taxi

   Usage

   Expressing the desire to use a taxi

   Grammar Note

   "-고 싶다" expresses a desire to do something. "싶어요" is the polite form.

9. 지도에서 보여 주실 수 있어요?

   Ji-do-e-seo bo-yeo ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?

   Could you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Asking someone to point out a location on a map

   Grammar Note

   "-어 주실 수 있어요?" is the most polite way to ask someone to do something for you.

10. 이 주소로 가 주세요

    I ju-so-ro ga ju-se-yo

    Please take me to this address

    Usage

    Telling a taxi driver your destination address

    Grammar Note

    Convenient when showing the address on your smartphone map app. "주소" comes from the Sino-Korean "住所".

11. 오른쪽

    O-reun-jjok

    Right

    Usage

    One word for "right" — readable at a glance, even by a driver in motion

12. 왼쪽

    Oen-jjok

    Left

    Usage

    One word for "left", for taxis and directions

13. 직진

    Jik-jin

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    The word used on Korean road signs; show it straight to a driver

14. 유턴

    Yu-teon

    U-turn (go back)

    Usage

    For asking a driver to turn back after overshooting; matches the wording on Korean road signs

15. 정지

    Jeong-ji

    Stop

    Usage

    The word on Korean stop signs; the same spelling also means "suspension" (of an account), but inside a vehicle it reads as "stop"

16. 북쪽

    Buk-jjok

    North

    Usage

    The compass direction; "북" alone can also mean "drum", so the "-쪽" form is used

17. 남쪽

    Nam-jjok

    South

    Usage

    For confirming a compass direction while showing a map

18. 동쪽

    Dong-jjok

    East

    Usage

    For confirming a compass direction while showing a map

19. 서쪽

    Seo-jjok

    West

    Usage

    For confirming a compass direction while showing a map

20. 호텔

    Ho-tel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Names the hotel as a destination; pair it with a card showing the hotel name

21. 공항

    Gong-hang

    Airport

    Usage

    For naming the airport as a taxi destination

22. 버스 정류장

    Beo-seu jeong-nyu-jang

    Bus stop

    Usage

    A city bus stop; an intercity bus station is "버스 터미널"

23. 지하철

    Ji-ha-cheol

    Subway

    Usage

    The subway system itself; a subway station is "지하철역"

24. 대사관

    Dae-sa-gwan

    Embassy

    Usage

    The destination to point at when a passport is lost or in an emergency

25. 현금인출기

    Hyeon-geum-in-chul-gi

    ATM (cash machine)

    Usage

    "ATM" is understood too, but Korean signage usually reads "현금인출기"

26. 환전소

    Hwan-jeon-so

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    A money-changer booth in town, as distinct from a bank counter

27. 빨래방

    Ppal-lae-bang

    Coin laundry

    Usage

    A self-service laundry; also called "코인세탁소"

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